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29
same amount of money spent on residential schools for similar
types of school children.
Whilst in Switzerland last year I had an opportunity of examining
not only ordinary elementary schools but also of seeing one of
their special schools for debilitated children.
In the special instance which came to my notice, what appeared
to be an ordinary house which lent itself particularly to the purpose,
had been taken high up from the valley. The type of children
appeared to be very much the same as those we admit to our
Open-air School. This special school was open all the summer-time.
It has always appeared to me that an Open-air School open
for about twenty-five hours during the week cannot be of the same
economic value as a similar school where the children have the
benefits of the exceptional amenities afforded for the whole duration
of their stay.
It must not be supposed I am speaking at all to the detriment
of Open-air Schools as such. I do, however, look upon them as
pioneer schools showing the line of future development rather than
a fixed form of accommodation.
If and when we learn the lessons these schools have to teach—
i.e., as and when our other schools are so built that they afford
similar amenities—the need for Open-air Schools will pass, although
of course, the education of children who by reason of their physical
defects are not quite fit for the curriculum of ordinary elementary
schools will still remain an educational problem.
During the year we have had an exceptional experiment by
reason of the fact that the Authority have decided to use one of
the classrooms at the Open-air School for ordinary elementary
education.
It is my unfortunate experience that we have not made the
most intelligent use of this classroom. The children have not
received their full maximum of open air by reason of the fact that
the windows have been unnecessarily shut and the children have